Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Gastric Cardia Adenocarcinoma Shared Susceptibility Locus in PLCE1: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Two recent genome-wide association studies have identified a shared susceptibility variation PLCE1 rs2274223 for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and gastric cardia adenocarcinomas (GCA). Subsequent case-control studies have reported this association in other populations. However, the findings were controversial and the effect remains undetermined. Our aim is to provide a precise quantification of the association between PLCE1 rs2274223 variation and the risk of ESCC and GCA. METHODS Studies were identified by a literature search in MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the association in allele, dominant, recessive, homozygous, and heterozygous models. RESULTS Ten articles were identified, including 22156 ESCC cases and 28803 controls, 5197 GCA cases and 17613 controls. Overall, PLCE1 rs2274223 G allele (G vs. A: OR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.15-1.39 for ESCC; OR=1.51, 95% CI: 1.35-1.69 for GCA) and its carrier (GG +AG vs. AA: OR = 1.23; 95% CI =1.02-1.49 for ESCC; OR =1.62; 95% CI =1.15-2.29 for GCA) were significantly associated with the risk of ESCC and GCA. In stratified analysis by ethnicity, significant association of PLCE1 rs2274223 G allele and the risk of ESCC (OR=1.33, 95% CI 1.21-1.45) and GCA (OR =1.56, 95% CI: 1.47-1.64) was observed in Chinese population. CONCLUSIONS Our meta-analysis results indicated that PLCE1 rs2274223 G allele significantly contributed to the risk of ESCC and GCA, especially in Chinese population.